Facial tissue



Jan. 28, 1964 M. DONOVAN 3,119,516

FACIAL TISSUE Filed Aug. 7. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 28, 1964 M. DONOVAN 3,119,516

FACIAL TISSUE Filed Aug. 7. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,119,516 FACIAL TISSUE Marion Donovan, 418 Harbor Road, Southport, Conn. Fiied Aug. 7, 1961, Ser. No. 129,778 1 Claim. (Ci. 221-47) This invention relates to facial tissues of improved construction, a stack of such facial tissues, and to a package made up of a stack of such facial tissues positioned within a dispensing container. The general object of the present invention is to provide facial tissues of particular constructions which afford the user the option of withdrawing one or any desired number of successive tissues from a stack or package either as a two-ply structure comprising a single sheet of tissue stock folded upon itself to form two integral plies, or

'as a single-ply structure comprising a single unfolded sheet. Tissues in accordance with the present invention are so folded as to provide a grasping tab of double thickness lying upon one horizontal surface of the tissue structure and a grasping tab of single thickness lying upon the opposite horizontal surface thereof. Thus, when a plurality of such tissues is arranged in a stack with the double-ply tabs extending upwardly of the stack and the single-ply tabs extending downwardly of the stack, the two-ply tabs are accessible from the top of the stack and tissues withdrawn from the top of the stack will be double. The stack may be inverted to make the single-ply tabs available from the top of the stack for withdrawing tissues in single-ply form.

This invention constitutes an improvement in various specific forms over the invention disclosed and claimed in my US. Patent No. 2,627,974 granted February 10, 1953, and my copending application Serial No. 565,- 010 filed February 13, 1956, now Patent Number 3,007,- 605. In a general sense the improvements afforded by the present invention lie in the fact that the tissues may be withdrawn from a stack or from a dispensing container enclosing such a stack optionally as one-ply or two-ply structures by simply inverting the stack, whereas in my previous patent and copending application aforesaid, the optional withdrawal may be performed only from one side, say the top, of the stack. In one form of the present invention the tissues are provided with both a double-ply and single-ply tab on one side, say the top, and with a single-ply tab only onthe bottom, and in this form of the invention the user may withdraw either single or double-ply tissues from one side of a stack but by inverting the stack the user can be assured that the tissues can only be withdrawn in single-ply form.

The package provided by the present invention comprises a stack of tissues positioned within a dispensing container which is so constructed as to afford an access opening in the top wall or bottom wall or both for withdrawal of single or double-ply tissues as desired. The carton may carry suitable legends or instructions for indicating the form in which the tissues may be withdrawn through the respective access openings.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear as the description proceeds. Preferred forms of the invention are disclosed herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a package comprising a facial tissue dispensing container made in accordance with the present invention filled with facial tissues embodying the present invention, showing the dispensing opening in the top wall of the dispensing container which provides access to a tissue on the top of the stack therein;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same package inverted to expose the dispensing opening in the bottom ice Wall of the dispensing container which provides access to the bottom tissue in the stack therein;

FIG. 3 is a section along the line 33 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a facial tissue folded in accordance with one form of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing a modified form of facial tissue; and,

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing a further modified form of facial tissue.

A facial tissue is usually a unitary structure made up of two or more separate plies of light, thin, absorbent cellulosic material. Ordinarily the individual plies comprising each such tissue are superimposed in registry and edge portions thereof are folded inwardly toward a line approximately midway of the width of the tissue. The inwardly folded edges sometimes fall in substantial abutment near the center line and in other cases are spaced from one another, but in any event either of the inwardly folded edges constitute tabs which may be grasped by the user to lift the tissue from a stack or package in the form of a structure of two or more plies in thickness. Such tissues are usually sold by the stack, and while the stack may be simply wrapped it is normally placed in a dispensing container having a slot or perforations along which the user may form a slot which is in vertical alignment with one or both of the folded edges or tabs of the tissues. In some instances the tabs of successive unitary multi-ply tissues within the stack are interleaved so that upon withdrawal of one tissue from the stack in the container the tab of the next succeeding tissue is automatically brought through the dispensing opening so as to be readily available when it is desired to withdraw the next tissue. In other instances the edges of succeeding unitary tissues are not interleaved and consequently the tissues are withdrawn one at a time by inserting the fingers through the dispensing opening and grasping either edge or tab of the top tissue in the stack. In both instances described above each tissue is necessarily withdrawn as a unit made up of all of its several plies.

In my Patent No. 2,627,974, the tissues are so arranged in a stack that the user, at his option, may withdraw a unitary multi-ply tissue or he may withdraw the individual plies one at a time. In the embodiment of the invention chosen for illustration in my patent aforesaid, the individual plies forming each tissue are separate whereby the user may withdraw either multi-ply or singleply tissues having identical dimensions. Also, in said previously illustrated embodiment, if the user withdraws the uppermost single-ply of a multi-ply tissue, it will not be possible to withdraw a complete multi-ply tissue in the next operation. That is, the one or more plies remaining of the tissue from which the single-ply was withdrawn will remain on the top of the stack.

When consideration is given to the uses for which single plies are particularly adapted, it appears that a single-ply of unusually large dimensions is particularly desirable. Thus, while double, triple or other multiple ply tissues are desirable where strength is a factor, single plies are particularly desirable in uses where absorptive capacity is primarily important. For example, in removing face creams, wiping spilled liquids, etc., several single-ply tissues will absorb liquids more rapidly than a corresponding number of tissues in multi-ply form.

In my copending application Serial No. 565,010 the user has complete option in connection with each tissue removed from the stack as to whether a multi-ply tissue which appears to be conventional in construction and dimension, or a single-ply tissue substantially twice that size may be selected. As shown in said copending application such selection may be effected simply by grasping one or the other of the two accessible edges or tabs lying generally centrally of the upper portion of each tissue within the stack. As shown therein one integral sheet, which itself may be single-ply or multi-ply in construction, is so folded as to afford a double-ply tab resting upon the upper surface of the unitary tissue and a single-ply tab also resting upon said upper surface. When "the user grasps the double-ply tab, the inner edge of which constitutes a fold line joining the integral upper and lower plies, the tissue will be withdrawn in doubleply form. However, when the user grasps the single-ply tab the tissue will unfold upon withdrawal and will assume a single-ply configuration throughout its area.

It will be apparent that in my Patent 2,627,974, as well as in my application Serial No. 565,010, the option between single-ply and double-ply withdrawal may be exercised only from one side, logically called the top, of the stack.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIG. 1 there is illustrated a package consisting of a dispensing container 18 with a stack of facial tissues 12 therein. The dispensing container may be of any usual construction and may be made of cardboard or similar material, or may be zrnolded from any suitable moldable material. The con- Itainer may have side walls 14 (only one of which is visible in FIG. 1), end walls 16 (only one of which is visible in FIG. 1), a top wall 18 and a bottom wall 28 (FIG. 2). The top wall 18 may have formed therein an elongated access opening or slot 22. The opening 22 may be formed in the container as manufactured or, more usually, may be outlined by perforations along which the user may remove a portion of the top wall to form the opening 22. A similar opening 24 is provided in or provided for in the bottom wall 28. It will oe understood that when the container 19 is positioned with the top wall 18 upwardly as shown in FIG. 1, the opening 22 will provide access to the topmost tissue within the stack 12 and that when the container 18 is inverted as shown in FIG. 2 with the bottom wall 20 uppermost the opening 24 therein will afiord access to the tissue at the bottom of the stack which has now become the uppermost tissue because of inverting of the container. Throughout this specification in connection with the description of the container 10, the stack of tissues 12, and the individual tissues themselves, the words top, bottom, upper and lower" are used for convenience in description and they are merely arbitrarily related to the positions of the elements of this invention as illustrated in the drawings. Obviously applicant might just as well have illustrated these elements in an inverted position.

In FIG. 3, which is a vertical sectional view of the package in the position illustrated in FIG. 1, the stack 12 of tissues is made up of a plurality of vertically aligned tissues of the particular form shown in FIG. 4. As the description proceeds it will become apparent that the stack 12 of tissues may also consist of a plurality of vertically aligned tissues in the forms shown in FIGS. and 6.

In FIG. 4 there is illustrated a form of tissue which is very similar to that illustrated in my copending application Serial No. 565,010 aforesaid and which embodies the principal advantages thereof and which affords additional advantages as will be described herein.

The tissue illustrated in FIG. 4 is generally indicated by the reference numeral 26 and it is made up of a single rectangular sheet of cellulosic or similar fibrous sheet material which is folded upon itself along a first fold line 28 to form a structure of double thickness. The fold line 28 is parallel with the opposite edges 30 and 32 of the originally flat sheet and it is offset from the center of the sheet as measured between the edges 31 and 32 whereby a single-ply tab portion 34 extends beyond the edge 30. The tissue 26 is folded upwardly along a second fold line 36 parallel with the fold line 28 and within the area of double thickness of the tissue 26 to form a double-ply tab 38 which rests upon the upper surface of the upper ply 40 of the two-ply structure. The tissue 26 is further folded downwardly along a third fold line 42 which is in the area of single thickness of the tissue 46 and preferably substantially coincides in vertical registry with the edge 30 of the upper ply 40. Thus the single-ply tab 34 rests upon the lower surface of the lower ply 44 of the tissue 26.

Referring now to FIG. 3 it will be observed that the stack 12 of tissues consists of a plurality of tissues as shown in FIG. 4 and that the two-ply tab 38, the inner edge of each of which is defined by the first fold line 28, is disposed upwardly of each of the tissues 26 within the stack 12. Also, it will be observed that the single-ply tab 34, the inner edge of each of which is defined by the sheet edge 32, is disposed downwardly of each of the tissues 26 within the stack. Thus, when a tissue 26 is removed from the top of the stack 12 it may be grasped by the double-ply tab 38 and lifted from the stack without unfolding the same along the first fold line 28 whereby the tissue is withdrawn in two-ply form. However, if a tissue is removed from the bottom of the stack (usually by inverting the stack) the single-ply tab 34 will be engaged by the user and in lifting the tissue from the stack the same will unfold along all of its fold lines including the first fold line 28 whereby the tissue is withdrawn in single-ply form.

In a complete package as shown in FIG. 3, the stack 12 of tissues 26 is positioned within the dispensing container 10 described above. Thus, the opening 22 in the top wall 18 provides access only to the two-ply tabs 38 and the opening 24 in the bottom wall 20 of the dispensing container will afford access only to the single-ply tabs 34. Positioning of the stack 12 within such a dispensing container not only protects the tissues to a certain extent and maintains them in vertical alignment so long as they remain in the container, but when provided with access openings 22 and 24 of suitable size and shape, it also provides more or less resistance to Withdrawal of the tissues which is effective to facilitate unfolding of the tissue to the two-ply form when removed through opening 22 or the one-ply form when removed through the opening 24. The particular size and/or shape of the access openings 22 and 24 is not critical. The illustrated openings are merely representative examples which are so positioned with respect to the tabs 38 and 34 respectively as to provide ready access to them, and are of such relative size as to promote unfolding of the tissues.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the dispensing container 10 may be provided with printed legends or instructions to indicate the configuration in which the tissue may be withdrawn from the opposite sides (top and bottom) thereof. For example, the top wall 18 (FIG. 1) may have the word double printed thereon and the bottom wall 20 (FIG. 2) may have the word single printed thereon. The side walls 14, as well as the end walls 16, if so desired, may have the words double and single with associated arrows 19 and 21 pointing respectively toward the top wall 18 and the bottom wall 20.

Another form of tissue embodying the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 5. In said figure the tissue 126 is made up of a single sheet of appropriate material folded along a first fold line 128 which in this case may be centrally located between and parallel with the edges 130 and 132 of the sheet. Thus, the tissue 126 is a two-ply structure substantially throughout its area. The tissue 126 is folded upwardly along a second fold line 136 parallel with the first fold line 128 to form a two-ply tab 138 which rests upon the upper surface of the upper ply 140. The inner edge of the two-ply tab 138 is defined by the fold line 128. The lower ply 144 is folded downwardly along a second fold line 142 to form a single-ply tab 134 which rests upon the lower surface of the lower ply 144. The inner edge of tab 134 is defined by the edge 132 of the sheet. The upper ply 141i is folded downwardly along a fourth fold line 146 to form a single-ply tab 148 which rests against the lower surface of the upper ply 14d and also rests upon the upper suriace of the lower ply 144. It will be apparent that the tab 148, being disposed between the two plies 140 and 14-4, is not readily accessible and serves no function except to make it possible to supply a tissue 126 which is of two-ply thickness throughout its area when withdrawn in two-ply form and which is of maximum size when withdrawn in one-ply form.

When a plurality of tissues such as those shown in FIG. 5 is arranged in a stack in the manner described above in connection with the tissue shown in FIG. 4, the twoply tabs 13?: may be used to lift any desired number of individual tissues successively from the top of the stack in two-ply form. Also, the single-ply tabs 134 may be used to withdraw any desired number of tissues 126 successively from the bottom of the stack in one-ply form. When such a stack is positioned within a dispensing container as illustrated in F165. 1 through 3, the tissues may be optionally withdrawn in single or double form exactly as described above in connection with the tissues illustrated in FIG. 4.

In FIG. 6 a still further modified form of tissue is shown. The tissue 226, there shown, is made up of a sheet of single thickness of suitable material folded upon itself along a first fold line 228 which is parallel with and may be disposed substantially centrally between edges 230 and 232 of tie sheet. This provides a two-ply structure which is then folded upwardly along a second fold line 236 to form a two-ply tab 238 which rests upon the upper surface of the upper ply 240. The inner edge of the tab 238 is defined by the fold line 228. The lower ply 244 is folded downwardly along a third fold line 242 parallel with the aforesaid fold lines to form a single-ply tab 234 which rests upon the lower surface of the lower ply 244. The inner edge of the one-ply tab 234 is defined by the edge 232 of the sheet. The upper ply 240 is folded upwardly along a fourth fold line 246 parallel with and preferably in substantial registry with the fold line 242 to form a second one-ply tab 248 which rests upon the upper surface of the upper ply 240. The inner edge of the tab 248 is defined by the edge 236) of the sheet. Thus, the tissue illustrated in FIG. 6 is essentially similar to that shown in FIG. 5 except that the second one-ply tab 248 rests upon the upper surface of the tissue and thus is accessible from the top of the tissue or from the top of a stack of such tissues. As a result the user of a stack of tissues of the form shown in FIG. 6 may withdraw at his option any desired number of tissues from the top of the stack in two-ply form by grasping the two-ply tabs 238 or in one-ply form by grasping the tabs 248. The user may also withdraw tissues from the bottom of the stack in one-ply form only because there is only the one-ply tab 234 which is accessible from the bottom of the stack.

When a stack of tissues such as those shown in FIG. 6 is placed within a dispensing container as illustrated in FIG. 3, the tissues may be withdrawn either as one-ply or two-ply tissues through the access opening 2-2 and may be withdrawn only in one-ply form through the access opening 24. It will be apparent that legends printed upon the box containing tissues of the form shown in FIG. 6 may be appropriately worded to indicate the type of withdrawal which may be effected through the openings 22, 24 respectively.

In the dispensing container illustratively shown herein, the access openings 22 and 24 have been shown relatively wide and generally centrally disposed of the width of the top and bottom walls respectively. If so desired, the openings may be made considerably narrower and they may be so positioned relative to the longitudinal center line of the box as to provide access only to the particular tab which may be desired. Also, the tabs 38 and 34 and their counterparts may be longer or shorter than illustrated herein to appro ch or extend across the longitudinal center line of the stack or package. Obviously also the tabs on the upper and lower sides of the stack may be of unequal length. Such minor modifications in the configuration of the tissues may, of course, be accompanied by appropriate relocation and dimensioning of the access openings in the dispensing container 10 when the latter is provided.

Throughout this specification reference has been made to a single sheet or single thicnness of material appropriate for use in facial tissues. It will be understood, of course, that the single sheet from which applicants multi-ply structure is folded may itself comprise two or more plies arranged in registry, and when such multi-ply original sheet is folded in accordance with the present invention the operation thereof will be the same. It is intended to cover all such structures when reference is made to oneply and two-ply tissues, for example. Thus, if the original sheet is a three-ply structure the two-ply tabs referred to herein actually will comprise six plies of the original material, while the one-ply tabs actually will comprise three plies of the original material.

While I have herein described preferred forms of my invention it will be understood that modifications in construction and arran ement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Also, while this invention is particularly useful in connection with facial tissues, it will be apparent that the structural features of this invention may be adapted to equivalent products including those made of heavier absorbent material and identified as towels, or wipers and the like. Ohviously the present invention would offer the same advantages in connection with such equivalent structures and the words facial tissue as used in the claim are intended to cover such equivalent structures.

1 claim:

A package comprising a dispensing container and a single stack of folded tissues positioned within said con tainer, each of said tissues having a body portion comprising superimposed planular plies of sheet material such as paper including at least an uppermost ply and a lowermost ply, each of said tissues having a first tab formed by folding a marginal edge portion of all of the plies of said body portion together to lie exposed upon the upper surface of said uppermost ply of said body portion, each of said tissues having a second tab formed by folding a marginal edge portion of said lowermost ply alone to lie exposed upon the lower surface of said lowermost ply of said body, said tissues being stacked vertically with said planular plies of the bodies thereof disposed horizontally with said first tabs of all of said tissues in vertical registry and with said second tabs of all of said tissues in vertical registry, said container consisting of top, bottom, side and end walls, said top wall being disposed horizontally above said stack of tissues and having means defining an access opening formed therein to afford access only to the first tab of the uppermost tissue in said stack, and said bottom wall being disposed horizontally beneath said stack of tissues and having means defining an access opening formed therein to afford access only to the second tab of the lowermost tissue in said stack.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,177,466 Winter Mar. 28, 1916 2,027,258 Winter et a1. Jan. 7, 1936 2,138,425 Morris Nov. 29, 1938 2,326,433 Broeren Aug. 10, 1943 2,627,974 Donovan Feb. 10, 1953 3,007,605 Donovan Nov. 7, 1961 3,047,141 Burns July 31, 1962 

